Rivet upsetting tool

ABSTRACT

Upsetting tools, fabricated of at least two dissimilar metals, especially useful in bucking rivets utilized in attaching components to panels, metal plates and like articles, functioning to reduce the impact wave occurring in the tool and reverberation thereof and reducing the accompanying noise level originating in and emitting from the panel etc.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Morton Mendels Torrance, Calif.

[21] Appl. No. 18,448

[22] Filed Mar. 11, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Northrop Corporation Beverly Hills, Calif.

[54] RIVET UPSETTING TOOL Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-Gene P. Crosby Attorneys-Harold L. Fox and Willard M. Graham ABSTRACT: Upsetting tools, fabricated of at least two dissimilar metals, especially useful in bucking rivets utilized in attaching components to panels, metal plates and like articles,

functioning to reduce the impact wave occurring in the tool and reverberation thereof and reducing the accompanying noise level originating in and emitting from the panel etc.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 72/479, 227/ 1 56 [51] Int.Cl B21j 15/38 [50] Field of Search 72/479, 476, 462, 477; 227/156 L/ L -l ,P/aff j! 1, L kl -J9 RIVET UPSETTING TOOL The present invention pertains to upsetting tools and more particularly to rivet upsetting tools fabricated of at least two dissimilar metals useful in bucking rivets utilized to attach components to large panels and like members.

During a riveting operation, performed in connection with large panels and like structure, shock waves are generated in the panels as the hammer of a riveting gun contacts a rivet being bucked. This action is repeated until the rivet is completely bucked causing a plurality of chock waves to be generated in the panel resulting in a plurality of (seeming continuous) ringing sounds of high magnitude. Considering a closed space where a plurality of panels are being fabricated, for example, a modern aircraft assembly plant, the repeated and almost continuous ringing sound becomes very objectionable to the personnel working in the enclosure referred to above. Accordingly it becomes desirable that a satisfactory solution to the continuous ringing noise be provided.

The principle object of the present invention is to provide equipment which materially reduces the noise level occurring during riveting operations performed in the fabrication of large panels and like articles.

Another object is to provide equipment functioning to materially reduce vibrations and reverberation of panels and like articles in which rivets are being utilized in the fabrication thereof.

The above and other features will be particularly pointed out by referring to the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are elevational and plan views, respectively, of one embodiment of the upsetting tool disclosed herein.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side and front elevational views, respectively, of another embodiment of the upsetting tool disclosed herein.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the upsetting tool of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the upsetting tool disclosed herein.

Referring to the drawing, one embodiment of the upsetting tool 1 1 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The tool 11, generally of elongated configuration, and, for the most part, of integral construction including head, body and shank portions 12, 14 and 16, respectively. The head, body and shank portions are circular in cross section, the outboard ends of the head and shank portions normally define substantially flat surfaces having a normal relation with respect to the longitudinal axes A-A of the tool 11, thus it will be apparent that either end of the tool 11 may be utilized for upsetting operations. However, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the outboard end of the head portion defines a slightly convex surface enabling an operator to better hold the tool 11 and to transmit pressure to the rivet being bucked.

Spaced longitudinally of the tool 11, symmetrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis aA, is a plurality of drilled holes 18 containing slugs 19 of lead in solid state, or other soft metal. In this respect it is assumed the head, shank and body portions of the tool 11 is constructed of steel, accordingly the slugs 18 are relative soft with respect to the head, body and shank portions of the tool 11. It will be seen that the ends of the holes 18 are countersunk as identified by the numeral 21. The slugs [8 completely fill the holes 18 and also their countersunk ends 21, accordingly the slugs 19 are securely retained in position in the bores 18 enabling an upsetting operation to be effected utilizing the tool 11 as though it was completely of unitary construction.

The embodiment of the upsetting tool (FIGS. 3-5) is constructed similarly as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 including head and shank portions 22 and 23, either the head or the terminal end of the shank portion may be utilized to perform a rivet upsetting operation. The tool 15 has a plurality of lead slugs 19 positioned longitudinally of its axes,

similarly as the tool 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the axis of all of the slugs 19 have a normal relation with respect to the lon itudinal axis of the tool 15, however, some of the slugs 1 are positioned in the head portion 22 substantially as in FIGS.

The embodiment of the upsetting tool 24 shown in FIG. 6 is similar in construction to those previously described and show it in FIGS. 1-5, inclusive. The tool 24 is generally of elongated configuration and--for the most part-is of integral construction including heads 26 and shank portions 27. The tool 24 carries lead slugs 19, positioned similarly as the slugs 19 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and in addition carries a lead slug 28, the axis of which has a parallel relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tool 24. A threaded cap 29 is provided to retain the slug 28 in position in the bore 29.

For purposes of illustration it is assumed the tools 11, 12 or 24 are being utilized to fabricate a large aluminum panel utilized in present day aircraft.

The slugs 19 or 28, being constructed of solid material and being considerably softer than the material from which the tools 11, 12 and 24 are constructed, deaden the effect of the upsetting operation and effectively arrest the impact waves originating in the tools 11, 12 and 24 per se. Because the resonance frequencies of the tools 11, 12 and 24 are altered by the addition of the slugs l9 and 28, the tools 11, 12 and 24 are no longer in resonance frequency with the panel being fabricated. Accordingly vibrations of the panel are reduced with an accompanying reduction of sound reverberations.

Referring further to the operation of the present tool, sound recordings show conclusively that a leaded bucking tool (as disclosed herein) materially reduces the noise level as compared with the noise level utilizing conventional equipment, for example, an all metal bucking tool of integral construction. Also, the present tool achieves a greater degree of expansion in the shank of a rivet, in fact a degree of expansion comparing favorably to that in which a squeezing operation is utilized in forming the head, the latter method is recognized as providing the greatest expansion and most efficient operation, for shaping the head of a rivet.

I claim:

1. A rivet upsetting tool used in bucking rivets utilizing in the fabrication of panels, metal plates and like articles comprising:

a. a member generally of elongated configuration the major portions of which are of unitary construction fabricated of extremely hard material including head, shank and body portions;

b. said head and shank portions defining substantially smooth surfaces having a normal relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of said member;

c. and a plurality of slugs the combined volume of which relative small as compared to the volume of said major portions of said member and constituting a softer material than the material from which said member is fabricated, the slugs functioning to reduce the noise level resulting from a rivet upsetting operation in which rivets are util ized in the fabrication of panels, plates etc.

. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1:

a. in which said slugs are generally of cylindrical configuration constituting lead in a solid state.

. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2:

. in which the axis of said slugs have a normal relation with respect to the longitudinal axes of said member.

. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2:

. in which the axes of at least one of said slugs has a parallel relation with respects to the longitudinal axes of said member.

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2:

a. in which the axes of said slugs have a normal relation and others a parallel relation with respect to the longitudinal axes of said member.

NIB 

1. A rivet upsetting tool used in bucking rivets utilizing in the fabrication of panels, metal plates and like articles comprising: a. a member generally of elongated configuration the major portions of which are of unitary construction fabricated of extremely hard material including head, shank and body portions; b. said head and shank portions defining substantially smooth surfaces having a normal relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of said member; c. and a plurality of slugs the combined volume of which relative small as compared to the volume of said major portions of said member and constituting a softer material than the material from which said member is fabricated, the slugs functioning to reduce tHe noise level resulting from a rivet upsetting operation in which rivets are utilized in the fabrication of panels, plates etc.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1: a. in which said slugs are generally of cylindrical configuration constituting lead in a solid state.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2: a. in which the axis of said slugs have a normal relation with respect to the longitudinal axes of said member.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2: a. in which the axes of at least one of said slugs has a parallel relation with respects to the longitudinal axes of said member.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2: a. in which the axes of said slugs have a normal relation and others a parallel relation with respect to the longitudinal axes of said member. 